I've actually found that I love dogs that are "yay life" and are people dogs--love to meet and interact with people with some focus and drive thrown in so that tasks can still be preformed. My ideal dog is a social, confident, happy, drivey, focused with an off switch lab.

I have a bird that is into me and only me and everyone else can go die as far as he's concerned, so I've have my fill of that sort of thing--happy, social, adaptable critters for me from here on out.

I've actually found that I love dogs that are "yay life" and are people dogs--love to meet and interact with people with some focus and drive thrown in so that tasks can still be preformed. My ideal dog is a social, confident, happy, drivey, focused with an off switch lab.
.

You'd like my Pirate. That pretty much describes him, except he's not a Lab.

Yeah, I tend to like the outgoing dogs myself. Part of why I wound up with Staffords. Though ironically, the first 3 Staffords I owned weren't all that outgoing. I think Elmo, my first, would have been more outgoing if I weren't his 4th home, I think he was a little clingy because of that. My girls have been willing to meet people who make a little effort, but willing to ignore strangers too. Pirate, OTOH, thinks he's a celebrity.

Irish Setters surprised me when I've met them, they are much more 'air headed' than I expected . I also grew up wanting an Aussie so bad, and the more I meet, the less I really want to live with one. Collies too...I've met some sharp ones for sure, but a lot of them are so mellow, not what I expect.

Breeds that I never expected to like and I'm fighting? Cocker spaniels. I don't know what it is, but I've met a few that just had 'it'.

I think the only breed I can think of that I use to adore, and sounded great for me, but I can't stand to live with them are Golden Retrievers. They sound great, and a few are, but the majority drive me up a a wall. I literally walk away from them gritting my teeth as I find them to be super off the way, no focus, crazy dogs.

I met one at my job that I absolutely fell head over heels for. They got it from a shelter, the lucky couple, I wanted to steal their dog. lol It was a year old, deep red in color, light feathering to the coat not too fluffy. It was sooo awesome! It was intellegent and friendly without being over the top crazy and pushy like most of them. I was (kinda still am) in love with that dog. If every golden was like that dog I would definitely go for it! Unfortunately, they are not and I can't stand them. Even most of the well behaved ones kinda drive me nutty lol

I used to really covet NSDTRs. My friend has an absolutely wonderful girl who is sort of my model for everything I want Cohen to be, training-wise. I had an opportunity to get a pup from this same breeder (well respected working/sport breeder) but ultimately had to pass. There's just something about the retriever personality that doesn't quite gel with me.

Whippets are another breed that I've been infatuated with for a while. (The long haired ones in particular.) However after seeing friends working their whippets in agility & flyball I realize I don't have that kind of patience. Even the drivey ones are kind of flighty and emotionally fragile. I don't think they'd be a good fit for me.

Malinois and other Belgians are so cool to watch, but for some reason the more I meet the less I could see myself with one. I think the manic self assurance might be what's giving me pause.

Aussies are an odd breed for me. Obviously I love Cohen to bits, but the more Aussies I meet, the less I really like. If I were to ever get one in the future I'd probably have to search long and hard for a line that has the kind of things I really want.

Border Collies, the more I meet the more I love them. My husband doesn't agree, but we'll see if I can convince him to go along with it a few years down the road.

I used to really covet NSDTRs. My friend has an absolutely wonderful girl who is sort of my model for everything I want Cohen to be, training-wise. I had an opportunity to get a pup from this same breeder (well respected working/sport breeder) but ultimately had to pass. There's just something about the retriever personality that doesn't quite gel with me.

There's something about the Toller personality that doesn't quite gel with a lot of "retriever people" either :P. They are just a little...different.

I love cockers, talk about a good breed with a bad rap. Given Ive met a lot of ditzy ones and a lot with bladder issues but over all they've been a pleasure to be around.

The one I covet, the lady trains him with really, really harsh corrections, but he just doesn't quit.

She can't keep up with him when she sends him over the broad jump, so he gets popped literally every time he goes over it, but every time she says 'over!' he races up to jump just as cheerful as ever, even though he knows he's going to get popped on the way down. He's a machine.

Even when she gives him two conflicting commands at once, he still tries one, even though she corrects because he 'chose wrong.' The next time she gives two commands at once, he still tries. (And yes, our trainer gets on her case about it, and she is getting better.)

Most dogs I've known wouldn't tolerate such shenanigans. He's just so cheerful about it.